Applies to Windows 8

Streaming to devices and PCs using Windows Media Player

You can use Windows Media Player to stream digital media in your Player Library to devices and PCs on your home network. For example, you can stream music from your PC to a stereo or video and pictures to a TV.

Before you can start streaming, you'll need to add your digital media devices and PCs to your home network and turn on media streaming. Windows will automatically detect the devices and PCs that you can use with Windows Media Player to stream music, video and pictures. For more information about using Windows Media Player, see Getting started with Windows Media Player.

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To add a device to your network

The steps for adding a device to your network vary. Generally, you can turn it on and follow the instructions on the screen or in the information that came with it. For more information about ways to add a wired or wireless device or PC to your network, see Adding a device or PC to a network.

To turn on home media streaming

If media streaming isn't already turned on, follow these steps:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, then click Search.)
Enter Media streaming options in the search box, tap or click Settings, then tap or click Media streaming options.
Tap or click Turn on media streaming.
Turn on home media streaming won't be available on the stream menu if streaming is already turned on.
On the Media streaming options page, untick Allowed for any PCs and devices you don't want to stream media to, and tap or click OK.

Notes

If your PC is on a public network, you’ll need to change firewall and security settings for the type of network that you’re connected to before you can stream media. For more information about sharing, see Turning sharing on or off.
You might be prompted to share your media libraries with your homegroup before you can stream media. For more information about sharing libraries with a homegroup, see HomeGroup from start to finish.

To stream digital media to another PC or device

You can stream digital media to another device or PC using Play To. Here’s how:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, then click Search.)
Enter Windows Media Player in the search box, tap or click Apps, then tap or click Windows Media Player.
If the Player is currently open and you’re in Now Playing mode, tap or click the Switch to Library button .
Tap or click the Play tab.
Drag the items that you want to play from the Player Library to the list pane.
Tap or click the Play To button , then tap or click the device you want to stream to.
Use the Play To controls to play, pause or stop the media stream, and to change to the next or previous item in the list.
For more information about the Play tab, the list pane and playback controls, see Getting started with Windows Media Player.

Note

When you stream music to a digital media receiver, you might not be able to switch tracks using controls on the device itself or the remote control that came with the device.